New Living Translation

1 These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel. 2 Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline,<br>to help them understand the insights of the wise.<br> 3 Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives,<br>to help them do what is right, just, and fair.<br> 4 These proverbs will give insight to the simple,<br>knowledge and discernment to the young.<br> 5 Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser.<br>Let those with understanding receive guidance<br> 6 by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables,<br>the words of the wise and their riddles.<br> 7 Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true knowledge,<br>but fools despise wisdom and discipline.<br> 8 My child, listen when your father corrects you.<br>Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.<br> 9 What you learn from them will crown you with Grace<br>and be a chain of honor around your neck.<br> 10 My child, if sinners entice you,<br>turn your back on them!<br> 11 They may say, “Come and join us.<br>Let’s hide and kill someone!<br>Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent!<br> 12 Let’s swallow them alive, like the grave ;<br>let’s swallow them whole, like those who go down to the pit of death.<br> 13 Think of the great things we’ll get!<br>We’ll fill our houses with all the stuff we take.<br> 14 Come, throw in your lot with us;<br>we’ll all share the loot.”<br> 15 My child, don’t go along with them!<br>Stay far away from their paths.<br> 16 They rush to commit evil deeds.<br>They hurry to commit murder.<br> 17 If a bird sees a trap being set,<br>it knows to stay away.<br> 18 But these people set an ambush for themselves;<br>they are trying to get themselves killed.<br> 19 Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money;<br>it robs them of life.<br> 20 Wisdom shouts in the streets.<br>She cries out in the public square.<br> 21 She calls to the crowds along the main street,<br>to those gathered in front of the city gate:<br> 22 “How long, you simpletons,<br>will you insist on being simpleminded?<br>How long will you mockers relish your mocking?<br>How long will you fools hate knowledge?<br> 23 Come and listen to my counsel.<br>I’ll share my heart with you<br>and make you wise.<br> 24 “I called you so often, but you wouldn’t come.<br>I reached out to you, but you paid no attention.<br> 25 You ignored my advice<br>and rejected the correction I offered.<br> 26 So I will laugh when you are in trouble!<br>I will mock you when disaster overtakes you —<br> 27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm,<br>when disaster engulfs you like a cyclone,<br>and anguish and distress overwhelm you.<br> 28 “When they cry for help, I will not answer.<br>Though they anxiously search for me, they will not find me.<br> 29 For they hated knowledge<br>and chose not to fear the LORD.<br> 30 They rejected my advice<br>and paid no attention when I corrected them.<br> 31 Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way,<br>choking on their own schemes.<br> 32 For simpletons turn away from me — to death.<br>Fools are destroyed by their own complacency.<br> 33 But all who listen to me will live in peace,<br>untroubled by fear of harm.”<br>